Future of Work Consulting: Preparing for Automation and New Skill Requirements
Digital and technology Change management Business transformation Performance improvement
Future of work consulting helps leaders prepare for automation, AI, and shifting skill requirements without losing execution speed. The goal is measurable outcomes: better productivity, improved quality, lower risk, and a workforce that can adapt as technology changes.
Future of work trends
Future of work conference
Future of work 2023
Future of work 2025
Future of work report 2026
Future of work Deloitte
Deloitte future of work PDF
McKinsey future of work PDF
Future of work jobs and skills in 2030
What is meant by automation?
What are the 4 types of automation?
What is another word for automation?
What is an example of automation?
High authority sources for executives: Future of Jobs Report 2025 PDF, McKinsey on automation and the future of work, Deloitte future of work collection.
Keywords and questions this page covers?
- Keywords: future of work book, future of work trends, future of work conference.
- Keywords: future of work 2023, future of work 2025, future of work report 2026.
- Keywords: future of work Deloitte, Deloitte future of work PDF, McKinsey future of work PDF.
- Keywords: future of work jobs and skills in 2030, McKinsey future of work 2030.
- Questions: What is meant by automation?
- Questions: What are the 4 types of automation?
- Questions: What is another word for automation?
- Questions: What is an example of automation?
- Questions: What is a future of work?
- Questions: What jobs will no longer exist in 2030?
- Questions: What will work be like in the future?
- Questions: What are the top 5 future jobs?
What is the future of work?
Definition for executives
The future of work is how work gets done as technology, talent models, and employee expectations change. It includes automation and AI, skills shifts, and new ways to organize work around skills rather than static job descriptions.
Why it matters
Automation changes task mix and decision speed. The winners treat it as a workforce and operating model redesign, not only a technology project.
Related: Change management and Business transformation.
Automation basics for leaders
What is meant by automation?
Automation is the use of technology to perform tasks, processes, or workflows with reduced manual effort.
Good automation increases speed and consistency while improving controls and auditability.
What are the 4 types of automation?
A practical framework includes: task automation, process automation, decision automation, and physical automation.
This helps teams avoid over-investing in a tool that only automates steps while leaving the end-to-end process broken.
What is another word for automation?
Terms you will hear include digitization, orchestration, mechanization, and autonomation.
Use precise language so stakeholders know whether you are automating tasks, redesigning workflows, or augmenting decisions.
What is an example of automation?
An invoice to pay workflow can automatically capture invoice data, validate against PO and receipt, route approvals, and post to the ERP.
The value comes from fewer errors, shorter cycle time, and stronger controls, not only removing keystrokes.
If you are building AI enabled automation, see: AI consulting and GenAI enablement and AI and management consulting fast start guide.
Roadmap: preparing for automation and skills shifts
1) Identify value pools
Quantify where automation can improve outcomes: cost, quality, speed, revenue, risk, and customer experience.
Prioritize by impact and feasibility, not by who shouts loudest.
2) Redesign work, not only tasks
Map the process end to end and remove waste first.
Then automate the redesigned workflow so you do not accelerate a broken process.
3) Build change and adoption
Automation changes roles and identity.
Pair implementation with training, manager toolkits, and feedback loops.
4) Create the skills plan
Translate the new operating model into critical skills, proficiency levels, and learning pathways.
Use a skills inventory to place people into the highest value work.
5) Scale with governance
Stand up a portfolio governance rhythm to select, fund, and measure automation use cases.
This reduces shadow automation and tool sprawl.
6) Measure and sustain
Track KPI outcomes, adoption, control quality, and skills progress.
Make value realization part of leadership routines.
If your organization needs stronger coordination across many workstreams, consider establishing a program layer such as a business change office.
See: Business change office.
Skills based workforce strategy
From job based to skills based
Skills based models focus on what people can do, not only their titles.
This helps organizations move talent quickly as automation changes task mix.
What to build first
- A skills taxonomy for critical roles and workflows.
- A skills inventory for current talent, validated by managers or work samples.
- Learning pathways tied to real projects, not only courses.
- Hiring and internal mobility rules that reward skills growth.
Technology often enables this shift. See: Data and technology consulting and Digital consulting services guide 2025.
Operating model and governance
| Element | What good looks like | Typical pitfalls | How consultants help |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automation portfolio | Clear pipeline, value cases, and funding governance. | Tool sprawl and duplicated effort across teams. | Set up intake, prioritization, and value tracking cadence. |
| Data and controls | Traceable logic, auditability, and controls aligned to risk. | Automating exceptions and introducing hidden risk. | Control design and risk management alignment. |
| Workforce strategy | Skills taxonomy, learning paths, and redeployment plan. | Training without job redesign or placements. | Skills based architecture and workforce transition planning. |
| Change management | Leaders role model, managers coach adoption, comms are consistent. | Resistance, low adoption, and productivity dip. | Manager toolkits, comms plan, adoption dashboards. |
Metrics that show progress
Automation outcomes
- Cycle time reduction for target workflows.
- Error rate and rework reduction.
- Cost to serve improvements.
- Control effectiveness and audit findings.
Skills outcomes
- Skill proficiency growth in priority skill clusters.
- Internal fill rate for priority roles.
- Time to productivity for redeployed talent.
- Learning completion tied to applied projects.
Business outcomes
- Revenue per employee where relevant.
- Customer experience metrics, for example NPS or CSAT.
- Operational risk incidents and compliance metrics.
- Retention of critical roles.
Internal links and external references
Recommended internal links
Need a future of work assessment?
NMS can help you prioritize automation use cases, redesign workflows, build a skills based workforce plan, and drive adoption through change management. Start here: book a free consultation or contact us.
FAQ
What is meant by automation?
Automation is using technology to perform tasks or workflows with less manual effort, improving speed and consistency while strengthening controls.
What are the 4 types of automation?
A practical set of four types is task automation, process automation, decision automation, and physical automation.
Organizations can mix these across workflows depending on data quality, risk, and complexity.
What is another word for automation?
Related terms include digitization, orchestration, mechanization, and autonomation.
Choose the term that matches what you are truly changing: tasks, process flow, or decisions.
What is an example of automation?
An accounts payable workflow that captures invoice data, routes approvals, validates against policies, and posts to ERP is a common automation example.
What is a future of work?
The future of work describes how work evolves as technology, workforce expectations, and talent models shift.
It includes automation, AI augmentation, and new skills needed for execution.
What jobs will no longer exist in 2030?
Most jobs will change more than disappear.
Roles dominated by repetitive and predictable tasks are most exposed, but organizations can protect outcomes by redesigning work and reskilling people.
What will work be like in the future?
Work is likely to be more digital, more skills based, and more data driven.
Many people will spend less time on routine tasks and more time on judgment, collaboration, and exception handling.
What are the top 5 future jobs?
Commonly cited growth areas include data and AI roles, cybersecurity, software and cloud, sustainability, and healthcare.
Your top roles should be selected based on your strategy, value chain, and risk profile.
